"Half sick" in the home office ?: Sick reports go down significantly

Fewer workers have reported sick in recent months than in previous years. There are several reasons for this. The head of the AOK Federal Association warns that the possibility of working from home encourages the tendency to work despite illness.

According to the AOK, significantly fewer employees reported sick during the Corona crisis than in previous years. Especially between May and August, the number of sick notifications fell significantly, as an evaluation by the Scientific Institute (Wido) of the health insurance company shows, which is available to the German Press Agency. The "Welt am Sonntag" had previously reported on it. Accordingly, the sickness reports at Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) were also at a "below average level".

The head of the AOK Federal Association, Martin Litsch, suspects several reasons behind the decline. "For one thing, many employees are likely to avoid medical practices for fear of infection," he said. "On the other hand, it is likely that the pandemic will reduce the risk of infection overall." More people work in the home office, which reduces the risk of infection on the way to work and in the office. In addition, employees with minor illnesses such as a cold would rather stay in the home office and forego sick leave.

Litsch pointed out that since May there have been significantly fewer sick leave due to "acute infections of the upper respiratory tract". "Obviously, the recommendation was taken seriously to avoid the office even if you have mild cold symptoms." And even before the pandemic, there was a noticeable tendency "that employees in the home office generally have fewer days off work". Litsch warned, however, that being able to work from home encourages the tendency to work despite illness. "Anyone who is sick should definitely take a break from work. There is no such thing as a half-sick," he said.

According to Wido, the sickness rate in May was 4.4 percent, after 5.2 percent in the same month last year and 4.7 percent in May 2018. In June, 4.5 percent reported sick (2019: 4.8, 2018: 5.0 Percent), in July 4.8 percent (2019: 5.0, 2018: 4.9 percent) and in August 4.4 percent (2018 and 2019 each 4.7 percent). According to "WamS", figures from the Federal Ministry of Health also point to this trend. According to a monthly sample, 4.22 percent of employees were on sick leave in the first nine months, which is the lowest nine-month figure since 2017.

According to Wido, the number of sick leave for both men and women has decreased significantly. In May, for example, 4.4 percent of male employees were on sick leave and 4.5 percent of women. In the same month last year it was 5.1 percent of men and 5.3 percent of women.